Water Department employee charged in drug case resigns

A Water Department employee accused of selling drugs on Town Hall property has resigned from his position.

According to town officials, 42-year-old Paul Andrade’s resignation became effective on June 4. How long Andrade worked for the Water Department could not be immediately confirmed.

Tipped off by town employees, Dartmouth Police began an investigation in April that led to the discovery of a routine drug exchange that had allegedly been going on for three years between Andrade and town utility billing clerk Carolyn Oliveira.

Andrade was confronted by police after officers allegedly observed him picking up $120 from Oliveira’s car April 27. According to court documents, Andrade allegedly confessed that each month, he sold Oliveira 52 suboxone strips, and charged her $10 for each strip.

Neither Oliveira nor Andrade were arrested. Both faced a clerk magistrate to determine probable cause to move forward with criminal charges. It was determined there was not probable cause to charge Oliveira with drug possession, but there was probable cause to charge Andrade with drug distribution.

Oliveira resigned from her position at the town collector’s office last month. Andrade is scheduled for arraignment on July 10.